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How to do it wrong and how to do it right. Sort of.

Yes, we know it seems as if A Reader's Respite is really picking on poor Anna Godbersen for her Luxe Series lately. But it is a series and since each successive book of the series seems worse than the last, who are we to turn down such fodder?

As most of you know by now, A Reader's Respite has been plodding our way through this horny-wealthy-elite-teenager- New York Society soap opera set in 1899 that's being billed as "historical fiction for teens."

We lamented the first in the series here, then later questioned our messed-up rationale for purchasing the second in the series here.

Yet even knowing what we were in for when we turned to that first page, we masochistically pressed onward. This time, we were rewarded with even more unrealistic hormone-crazed rich teenagers in turn-of-the-century New York having sex every chance they got. And trust us, you have no idea how many chances these societal teens had to have sex. Evidently, the sexual revolution actually occurred in 1899 New York.

They also found ways to fake their own deaths, blackmail each other into marriage (hey, at least the marriage part is an improvement), and run away with the stable help to California. Even their maids get in on the action here by acquiring a bit of cash and are perfectly able to sneak their way into the highest social circles with no one being the wiser.

But the icing on the cake? Well we won't ruin it completely for you, but suffice it to say that it involves a bearskin rug, a teenage girl with an older boy, lots of sex and all with in the confines of said girl's bedroom which just happens to be located within one of New York's most distinguished homes.

Clearly, parental supervision did not play a large role for teenage societal girls back then. Who knew?

Now all of this is not to claim that no one engaged in sex in turn-of-the-century New York. The birth rate of the time clearly refutes that. But if you'd like a better sense of high society scandal during this time period, we'd recommend that you turn to Paula Uruburu's new non-fiction expose of Evelyn Nesbit, entitled American Eve.

Not familiar with Evelyn Nesbit? Why, she was the original "It" girl, of course. The first supermodel, if you will. At only 16 years old, she was the most photographed woman of her time; the epitome of female beauty in 1900.

So it's not surprising that Evelyn inspired great passion in men and even greater scandal when her millionaire New York society husband murdered her lover.

True story, folks. The trial was a sensation and Evelyn became a legend in her own time.

Author Paula Uruburu's research is meticulous and while sometimes the book gets a bit heavy with hyperbole, the portrait of New York society at the turn of the century is stark and real.

With nary a bearskin rug to be found anywhere, thank goodness.

Now on to the giveaways.....A Reader's Respite is happy to offer a copy of American Eve to one lucky entrant. Just leave a comment here (all comers welcome, any country, any where) and on August 31st, we'll announce a winner, so be sure to check back and see if it's you!

And for those of you who find yourself intrigued by the trainwreck of The Luxe Series, just be patient and A Reader's Respite will be offering a giveaway of the entire series not too far in the future!

Love your intro to the book lol. I never thought that they would have the time too. I have not read the series yet but plan to in the future. I would love to learn more about Edith Nesbit. I also love books about real crimes and of course memoirs.

Once again, I have to say that I think you are prejudiced against those fluffy flouncy dresses that as you know all girls wore then. I would like to enter your contest but I fear that if I won you would drop the book from your plane on my house. Then again, maybe that would be just the thing to knock it over so we could move to a place like Portland, with that nice little bookstore there.

Please remind me in a few years NOT to get suckered into buying these books for my teen daughter. Holy Lord on his throne, who thought this was a good thing to write for teens? Your description of being dragged into the land of darkness, despite your better senses, reminds me of reading the Twilight series.

This Evelyn is interesting. Especially the picture. She has this stoned, F@#$ me look about her.

I haven't heard of Evelyn Nesbit but your brief description of her and the non-fiction book has really piqued my interest! I definitely added it on my wishlist. I'd love to be entered into your giveaway for it =)

As for the Luxe series, I never really wanted to read them. Seems I'm not missing out on much. But I may give them a try if I need some giggling time, and who doesn't need that =)

Whoever does the covers for the Luxe series did a good job, because I look twice every time I see one. Thank god it is not something I am going to add to my TBR pile as I have enough already.

I have heard of the Nesbit 'case' through reading The Crimes of Paris by the Hooblers. That book had done a lot of analysis on the high profile crimes of the times, not necessarily only Paris.So yes, Please enter me for this one.. I haven't read a good true story in a while and I do actually enjoy books like Anne Rule and the mystery/crime genre.Thanks for the giveaway!MarieBurton2004 at yahoo dot com

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